Timmins Fire No. 9 is still burning rapidly, spreading north and east, OPP and MNR officials have closed both highway 144 and highway 101 to ensure that evacuation efforts aren't hampered by heavy traffic.

No. 9 started early Sunday near the Gogama Unit Road, spreading rapidly, with hectares of dry timber, brush and deadfall feeding the flames, May run vacationers and residents were quickly evacuated from The Cache, Little Star Lake, Star Lake, the Old Mill Campground, Keefer Lake, Bob Lake, Opishing Lake and Aquesquaw Lake.

When The Daily Press located the blaze, it was feeding heavily on timbers and brush leftover from logging operations west of The Cache Campground.

It is unclear how Timmins will handle the influx of displaced residents, but accommodations will be found.

Reports said that the blaze moved north and west overnight, but has been driven east, back towards highway 144 as the winds changed early Monday morning.

It is unclear how the blaze began, but off the record conservation sources told The Daily Press that the circumstances are suspicious.

The same source anticipated that the fire will take weeks to control, given that the fire has spread into the root systems of the trees and heavy winds are driving embers throughout the area.

Monday mornings lightening storm added another uncertainty to the fire's condition, with authorities questioning how many other smaller fires have been started by lightening strikes.

Water bombing units are currently focused on the wildfire burning near Kirkland Lake and will be dispatched to No. 9 when circumstances allow.

Timmins residents are urged to keep their windows shut due to the heavy smoke permeating throughout town.

The Rae Hill fire has been contained, fire crews left the area around 3 a.m. Monday morning, highway 101 remains closed between Schumacher and South Porcupine.